RSA Scottish Art
The Grey Hat
 | Artist: George Henry |
| Title: The Grey Hat | |
| Year: c. 1902 | |
| Medium: oil on canvas | |
| Dimensions: | |
| Suggested topic: | |
| Source: RSA Diploma Collection | |
| View full screen image of this work | |
| Open print version of this work | |
| Description: George Henry was one of a group of young artists, including James Guthrie, Edward Arthur Walton and James Whitelaw Hamilton, who were called the Glasgow Boys.Although Henry painted landscapes and portraits, he also painted figures such as this well-off woman.This painting is called interestingly The Grey Hat, which suggests that the artist is more interested in the way she is dressed than her name or title. She is finely dressed, with an expensive silk scarf, pearls, rings and an extravagant hat. But above all, she seems to display her distinction by her rather haughty facial expression. Her eyes are very steady and gaze directly at the viewer, with one eye shaded by the brim of her hat. Is this woman looking arrogantly at the viewer, or do you think maybe she is hiding her feelings? Her red lipstick and rosy complexion suggest that she is healthy. Although we know nothing about this woman, it is possible to infer many things about her and her life even from this minimal image.This is a careful, considered portrait, displaying Henry's skill with oil paint as well as his attention to detail. The greater part of the image is a very deep shade of grey, but the overtones of scarlet, violet and pink add dashes of vivid colour to this heavy-toned portrait. The ripples of violet silk on the woman's blouse display Henry's ability to render shimmering, reflective fabric arranged in complicated folds. Equally he shows an understanding of light in the varied transparent layers of the silk scarf.The mood of the painting is quite dark and sombre, even with the lively additions of the red sash on the hat and dashes of hot colours elsewhere. The woman looks a little sad, and even though many people in her day probably envied her wealth, her money and social status, all these do not seem to have brought her happiness. Why do you think the title of the painting refers to the woman's hat and not to the woman herself? Does her extravagant hat say more about her than her face? | |
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